Study Proves ’80s Metalheads Turned Out Just Fine

Check back later to see how ’90s nü metal kids and ’00s emo kids are doing.

If you spend the ’80s skipping class, smoking behind the school dumpsters and listening to Slayer, a new study suggests those were actually good life choices.

The article is called “Three Decades Later: The Life Experiences and Mid-Life Functioning of 1980s Heavy Metal Groupies, Musicians, and Fans” and it ran recently in the International Society for Self and Identity’s journal. It found that the ’80s metalheads in question “were significantly happier in their youth, and better adjusted currently” than fans of other genres.

The research team headed by Humboldt State University psychologist Tasha Howe found that although metal fans may have indulged in risky behavior, having the support and camaraderie of a tight-knit subculture gave them an often overlooked advantage over their peers.

“Social support is a crucial protective factor for troubled youth,” the article points out. “Fans and musicians alike felt a kinship in the metal community, and a way to experience heightened emotions with like-minded people.”

Furthermore, the proceedings found that fans of other genres were actually more likely to seek counseling for emotional problems.

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